Translation of the Chofetz Chaim's Sefer Shmiras HaLashon. This site is dedicated to the improvement of the speech of members of Bnei Yisrael. To help avoid all sorts of troubles, learn Shmiras HaLashon - "One who guards his mouth and his tongue guards from troubles of his soul." (Mishlei: 21; 23)

Shmiras HaLashon כ"ט כּסלו - Kislev 29 - Eighty-Ninth Day

Once we truthfully contemplate, [we] find that the fulfillment of the mitzvah of judging your fellow favorably and the attribute of guarding the tongue [from forbidden speech], are dependant on the fulfillment of the positive commandment of “And you shall love your fellow as [you love] yourself”, (Vayikra: 19; 18) for if you truthfully love your fellow, you will definitely not speak Lashon HaRa about him, and you will seek with all of your strength [to discover his] innocence. [The person should seek out the merit of his fellow] just as would be the case if a certain incident would occur to him, [where] he did something that was improper, and people were standing [around] and discussing that affair, and [the person who did the questionable action] knows [of some information] that would show an indication of innocence about himself [vis-à-vis this incident], or that he performed this [action] inadvertently, or any other reason [that would explain his apparently improper action, if so, he would] greatly long that someone would be found who would argue for his merit, so that he won’t be shamed so greatly [by these people discussing the action that he committed]! So too, in precisely the same way [that he would want others to come to his defense], he is required to act [in the manner] for his fellow [by coming to his defense].